Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has refuted longstanding claims that he sought a third term in office, alleging that certain state governors pushed the idea in hopes of extending their own terms. Speaking in an interview with News Central, Obasanjo asserted that if he had truly wanted a third term, he would have secured it, highlighting instead his focus on securing debt relief for Nigeria.
“If I had wanted a third term, I would have gotten it. I didn’t want a third term,” Obasanjo explained, attributing the notion to governors who believed they would also benefit from a potential extension. He emphasized that achieving debt relief was far more challenging than the pursuit of a third term, an effort he viewed as crucial to Nigeria’s economic stability. During his administration, Obasanjo successfully negotiated significant debt forgiveness for Nigeria, which marked a milestone in the country’s financial history.
Obasanjo’s remarks come amid continued speculation over his intentions while in office. Recently, both former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President Ken Nnamani have claimed roles in blocking the alleged third-term agenda. Atiku, Obasanjo’s vice president from 1999 to 2007, stated that his relationship with members of the National Assembly helped prevent the third term from moving forward. Nnamani, who served as Senate president during that period, echoed this sentiment, recounting how he sacrificed his own senatorial ambitions to help defeat the initiative.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s future, Obasanjo expressed hope that the country could unite and improve through shared values of integrity and truth, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing national growth over regional affiliations.
This clarification from Obasanjo comes as Nigeria’s political landscape remains vibrant with discourse on leadership, historical legacies, and the future direction of governance.
